Getting things set up properly

If you've already done the "Creating Lara Outfits" tutorial, then you should already have everything set up properly and you can skip down to "About your existing outfits ."

You are going to need to set up some new file folders and download the necessary tools.

There's one additional program you are going to need. If you already have it, then you won't need to download it again. The program is TRwest Version 2.00. If you don't have this program you can download it from us by clicking on the link below.

Download TRwest Version 2.00

The web site for the TRwest program is itself the manual for the program. You should visit Mike's TRwest web site and print out a copy of the entire web page. It's over 20 pages of valuable information.

Now to create some new folders. You should already have a...

C:\Program Files\Core Design\trle

folder. Create a folder inside the trle folder and name it "Laras Closet." Then, inside the "Laras Closet" folder, create an "Outfits" folder, a "Maps" folder, and a "Starter" folder.

You should then have...

C:\Program Files\Core Design\trle\Laras Closet\Outfits
C:\Program Files\Core Design\trle\Laras Closet\Maps
C:\Program Files\Core Design\trle\Laras Closet\Starter

You will need to download a script file from us by clicking the following link...

Download the Starter.TWS file

Place this "Starter.TWS" script file in your "Laras Closet\Maps" folder.

Next, boot your TRwest program. On the menu bar at the top click... Script... and select "Load Script." Maneuver to your "Laras Closet\Maps" folder and load the "Starter.TWS" file. Then click File... and select "Save Wad As..." Now maneuver to your "Laras Closet\Starter" folder and save this new was as "Starter.WAS." This will place the wad files that you're going to need into the "Starter" folder.

About your existing outfits

All of Lara's "outfits" are stored in the WAD file. If you go through our other Tutorials that teach you how to create you own outfits, then you'll be well aware of this.

The WAD file contains a lot of information about the shapes of all objects and about how they're textured. It includes the images that are mapped onto the surfaces of these objects.

Up until just recently we had no control over which objects were included in a particular wad. If you wanted to modify how Lara was dressed, you were locked into modifying one of the wads that were already set up for a particular level. This is pretty much how most of the outfits that are available on the Internet are set up. Because the wad has already been set up for a particular level, you find yourself locked into using that outfit only in that one level.

The need for a standard: The "Starter" wad

With the release of the TRwest program I instantly realized what sort of impact this program could have on those of us who were designing different outfits for Lara. I set to work researching and creating new tools that would support a standard "Starter" wad that we could all use to create and store Lara's outfits. The "Starter" wad is a stripped down wad that barely has enough objects to support having Lara as an animated object.

Two ways of using the "Starter" wad

First, my goal was to create a wad that could be used as a "starter" -- as a wad that you would start with and then add objects to using the TRwest program. If we were to all begin our levels using this wad, then all of us could use all of the same tools that I had designed to make creating outfits easy and fun. All of my maps and drawings and other tools would work for everyone. Things would be a lot simpler. Once an individual had selected which outfit that they wanted Lara to wear, they would simply start with their "Starter" WAD that had that outfit. From there they could continuously add or remove objects as they built their new level. For those of you
who are not familiar with the TRwest program, then let me mention that it allows you to add objects from the various Tomb Raider 4 levels to your own level. The author is continuously expanding its capabilities and we're all anxious for the day that we can snatch objects from the other TR games. If we were all to distribute our "Lara Outfits" in this "Starter" format, then we could all download vast libraries of outfits that could be added to our own "Lara Closets."

Second, if we all stored our Lara's outfits in "Starter" wads, then we could make modifications more easily to outfits created by other people. We'd already have all of the maps and tools to do this. And most important of all, we could use the TRwest program to "move" any of these outfits stored in our "Starter" wad closet into an existing game. Tired of playing a particular level with Lara wearing the same old thing? No problem -- just change Lara into any outfit in your "Starter" closet.

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